FOR sundry allegations ranging from incompetence to absenteeism, a school principal and 26 teachers have been suspended in Ebonyi State.
Commissioner for Education Prince Chibueze Agbo named the principal as Mr. Celestine Ogbuzuru of the Community Secondary School, Nkalagu, in Ishielu Local Government Area.
Agbo said the teachers were suspended for what he described as gross incompetence and acts capable of undermining the government’s determination to offer qualitative education.
He alleged that the 26 teaching and and non-teaching members of staff were being punished for absenteeism, gross misconduct and incompetence.
The commissioner, who was on an unscheduled visit to the school, regretted that of the 37 employees on the payroll, only 19 signed the attendance register. Four of the 19 were present as at 1.30pm when Agbo led officials of his ministry on a tour of the school.
The remaining 15 workers were not on duty.
The commissioner said besides the 15 who absconded after signing the attendance register, 18 were absent without permission from neither the principal nor the management of the school.
The commissioner said: “The state government will not continue to tolerate any act of incompetence, gross misconduct, absenteeism and act capable of undermining its determination to give to the students a qualitative education.
“The ministry as part of its function would continue to undertake unscheduled visit to government schools to monitor the attendance and quality of education the pupils receive.
“It is most regrettable and unfortunate that, at Community Secondary School Nkalagu, out of the 37 tutorial and non-tutorial staff, only 19 signed the attendance register today.
“More worrisome is the fact that out of the 19 that signed the attendance register, only four were in the school as at 1.30pm when we visited. Unfortunately, the principal who is supposed to ensure attendance of teachers to school could not give good explanation on the whereabouts of his teachers. We are left with no other option than to suspend the principal and the 26 teachers.”
Agbo, who demanded for the teachers’ lesson note, observed that the pupils had not had more than two lectures per day in the last one month. He warned that the ministry would not hesitate to recommend any erring principal and teacher for sack.
Noting that the suspension would deter others who engage in such acts, Agbo added that the ministry would make adequate arrangement to fill the gap created by the development.
Similarly, Agbo ordered the immediate closure of two private schools located at Amaike-Abba Community in Ebonyi Local Government Area for operating without approval and not meeting up to the stipulated standard for private schools.
The shut schools are: Dennis Academy Nursery and Primary School and Net of Life International School all in Amaike-Abba Ebonyi Local Government Area.
The commissioner alleged that the proprietor of Dennis Academy Nursery and Primary School, instead of limiting the school to a nursery school with the facilities, made it a nursery and primary school.
He said the Net of Life International School was closed when the ministry observed that pupils were receiving lessons at the car garage of the proprietor.
He urged parents and guardians to find alternative schools for their children and wards.
via The Nation
http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/51540-ebonyi-suspends-principal-26-teachers-for-incompetence-absenteeism.html
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